The Also-rans

London Marathon 2021

By Paul Clarke Photography

October 4^th, 2021

The fast ones

I was lucky enough to cover the Marathon again this year for one of the big charities. The job involves getting lots of pictures of their runners, and making them and their volunteers all look very cheerful and inspiring. But before they arrive, and in the gaps, there's time for a few other highlights...

I didn't know Jepkosgei was going to win, of course, though I fancy that I can almost see that determination and intensity in the pictures now.

The mortals

And of course a whole bunch of eccentrics. Was the lad in the suit actually running up to Manchester for the conference? Why the bicycle? What's the story there? And an Official Attempt at...running the planet? Who knows?

The emotion just jumps out at you. At some points, quite literally.

Mile 21

It's hurting here. I covered various points on the course. But this was the one where most people were contemplating their life decisions.

Usingh Bolt. Indy. The somewhat encumbered, and very much at the tail end, #EMOJIMAN. But some sort of prize to the guy who ran in ski boots. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

At the finish

There's a whole photo essay just in the faces of the runners exiting the funnel after the finish line. Surreal calm for some, and GIVE ME MY CRISPS for others. Absolutely bloody lovely, admirable, eccentric, British joy. All of it.